Refrigerating unit



Nov. 22, 1932. E] v. HILL REFRIGERATING UNIT Filed June 16, 1932 Patented Nov. 22, 1932 EARL VERNON HILL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS REFRIGERATING UNIT Application filed June 16, 1932. Serial No. 617,669.

7 This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to a mechanical refrigerating unit which is well adapted for use in air conditioning systems and with air conditioning apparatus.

The invention comprehends a mechanical refrigeration apparatus comprising a compressor and reciprocating pump, driven from the same source of power in combination with an expansion coil which serves as a cooling coil in a water cooler, the water cooler or reservoir being carried by the standards and supporting structure upon which the compressor, pump, and the motor operating the same are supported; the invention also comprehends the combination of an air conditioning unit, a reciprocating pump driven by the motor which drives a refrigerant con1- pressor, a combined expansion coil water cooler, and means for conveying cooled water to the air conditioning unit; all of which are hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in 25 which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment.

The platform 1 supported by standards 2 carries thereon a reciprocating pump 3, a motor 4 and a compressor 5. The motor 4 drives im a compressor 5 with the cog belt 6 and drives the pump 3 by the V belt 7. Underneath the platform 1, the cooling tank 8 covered by insulation 9 is carried. The double walled tubular condenser 10 is water cooled by the 35 water intake 11 and water outlet 12. The

conduit 13 has an expansion valve 14 connected therewith which communicates with the expansion coils 15 having helical fins or extended surfaces 16 thereon. The return 0 conduit 17 communicates with the compressor 5 at one end and with the expansion'coil 15 at the other end, The reciprocating pump 3 has a suction intake 18, with which the wa ter line of the air conditioning unit communicates and the conduit 19 from the pressure side of the pump enters the cooling tank 8, which has an outlet 20 through which water is sent to the air conditioning unit. A thermostat bulb 21 connects with the thermostat 22.,

The operation is as follows:

Refrigerant is compressed in the compressor 5 and then passed through the condenser 10 where it is cooled by water. The cooled compressed refrigerant is liberated into the expansion coils 15 by means of the expansion valve 14. The expansion coil 15 with fins l6 thereon thus take up a great deal of heat from the water surrounding them in the cooling tank 8. This cooled water is forced under pressure into the water spray chamber of the air conditioning unit by the reciprocating pump 3 which is driven from the same motor that drives the compressor, and the water from the conditioning unit is recirculated to the intake side of the pump for recycling again through the water cooler. When the air conditioning unit is not supplied with mechanically refrigerated water, the thermostat 22 causes the compressor to stop operating.

It will be observed that the apparatus herein described permits connections to be made from the refrigerating unit to the air conditioning unit in a simple manner which any plumber can make as they are simple waterpipe connections, and it is therefore, not necessary to call a refrigeration engineer to connect the refrigerating unit to the air conditioning system. Furthermore, the device eliminates the expansion coil from the air conditioning casing, so that should a break occur in the refrigerant line, the poisonous fumes of refrigerant will not be circulated into the rooms of a dwelling through the dis' tributing air conditioning ducts. It Will also be noted that my apparatus has a supporting platform upon which the compressor, motor and pump are carried and under which the cooler tank is supported, the pump and compressor being driven bv the same motor, Certain unobvious advantages accrue to the driving of pump and compressor by the same motor. F or example, the velocity of water passing through the water cooler can be predetermined and controlled automatically with reference to the amount of refrigerant being compressed and expanded by the compressor. The number of revolutions of the compressor actuating pulley can be regulated to the number of revolutions of the pump 1 pulley. Their respective dimensions can be proportioned to produce a certam velocity of water through the cooler tank in accordance with the amount of compressed refrigerant produced. This not only permits efficient cooling, but also utilizes the economy of a single motor, and eliminates excess piping, complex connections, and complicated design of the air conditioning unit.

It will be understood that when refrigerat: Y

ed water is not required in the air conditioning unit, the water lines to the spray and from the reservoir may be shut off with suitable valves and the house tap water be supplied to the spray in the unit and the water be permitted to pass out of the reservoir through the drain (not shown) with or without recirculation. Of course, the house tap water supply may be used either wholly or partly, in conjunction with refrigerated water from tank 8, either wholly or partly, or without recirculation, as desired.

I claim:

1. A refrigerating apparatus for an air conditioning unit having water spraying means therein, said refrigerating apparatus having means for cooling spray water comprising a water cooler having an expansion coil therein, means for compressing a refrigerant communicating with said expansion coil, and means for placing said spray water under pressure in said cooler prior to cooling by said expansion coil, said compression means and said pressure means being actuated by a single motor.

2. In combination, a refrigerating apparatus including means for supporting a compressor, condenser, motor, and a pump, said supporting means carrying a water cooling tank thereunder, an expansion coil in said water cooling tank communicating with the compressor, a water conduit from the water cooling tank communicating with the pump, said pump and said compressor being simultaneously operable by said motor.

3. In a device of the class described, a compressor, motor pump, and condenser all supported upon a single platform and a water cooling tank supported underneath said platform, said water cooling tank containing finned expansion coils for expanding refrigerant produced by said compressor, means for returning expanded refrigerant to said compressor from said water cooling tank, means for conveying water from said pump to said tank to surround said coils therein, means for conveying cooled water from said tank, said motor driving said pump and said compressor.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

EARL VERNON I-IILL.

assaoeo with I 

